Audio-TechnicaAT-VMN95SH Replacement Turntable Stylus for AT-VM95SH (Brown)

I recently upgraded my vinyl ripping setup with the AT-LP120XUSB record player. While I was pleased to see they supplied you with a bit nicer elliptical stylus instead of just an ultra cheap conical one, it became apparent that it was missing a lot in the grooves of my records. There was one song in particular toward the end of the side that stood out. Instrumentation wasn't well separated, there was a decent amount of inner groove distortion, bass was a bit too high, and the soundstage sounded very small. Just a muddy sound overall. So, I decided to upgrade the stylus as well. I was going to go with the micro linear one but I figured for $30 more, the Shibata one was probably worth it. My instincts and the reviews for this stylus were right. The amount of clarity and depth I get out of this Shibata stylus over the elliptical one is nothing short of astounding. Testing it with that same song as before, this stylus pulled out everything that the elliptical stylus was missing. All the inner groove distortion was gone, the soundstage opened up beautifully, and instrumentation was nicely separated. Highs and mids were crisp and articulate and the bass that was a smidge overpowering before decreased to a more pleasing level. I was a bit hesitant to pull the trigger because of the price but this stylus is worth every penny if you're even a remotely serious audiophile. It really makes listening to a nicely mixed and mastered record a very pleasing experience and I highly recommend it.

The media could not be loaded. I upgraded turntables a while back to a vintage Technics SL1200MKII. Got it for a good price in excellent condition but hated the "DJ" style cartridge it came with. I looked around but wasn't looking to drop anywhere from $300-$750 on the cartridges i wanted right after buying an all new table. So I decided to get crafty.My starter turntable had come with a VM95E cartridge that was approaching end of life and I was no longer using the table. So it occured to me to get a new stylus for that cart and install it on the Technics, and upgrade it at the same time. So I did my research and landed on the SH. So I ordered it, my first one got lost in mail, but Amazon replaced it.Two weeks in I have to say I truely enjoy the cartridge. I had to put the cart on a new headshell and do all my alignment but it plays flawlessly and since I collect primarily vintage vinyl, I was shocked to hear how little distortion/surface noise it picks up.I will say it is not as "transparent" if you will. But I have noticed no weak spots in bass, mids, or High's. I listen to a lot of Genres and it has shined with each. Jazz especially has just been a joy to hear. I struggle to stop listening because I just enjoy it so much.There is no doubt in my mind there are much better cartridge/styli combos out there but the nice thing is when I upgrade down the road this can go back on my old table to be put in my home office. So especially if you have the VM cart and need a stylus for it, the SH is great. I would love to get my hands on an ML as well to try its more "Analytical" style but for now I'm happy with this upgrade.

EASY TO CHANGE / UPGRADE STYLUS THAT CAME WITH TURNTABLE TO A MUCH BETTER ONE. AND IT DOES SOUND MUCH BETTER!

Warm and great separation of channels. It's like the AT-VMN95ML but not as bright.

I had a VMN95ML, which replaced the VMN95E, which was originally on the turntable. The ML was a great cartridge, but I felt it was missing something. I replaced it with the VMN95SH. I listen to a lot of classical and jazz music, and this cartridge really brings out the sound. The first record I played with this cartridge was William Steinberg's version of Gustav Holst's The Planets. The detail was incredible; it seemed like I could hear every instrument in the orchestra. If you are on the fence about getting it and you like detail in your music, get this cartridge.

I got this as an upgrade to the green VM95e base model stylus (green) on an AT-LPW40WN. It is super easy to install, and is a major upgrade in sound quality, "oomph", and to some extent, detail. Similar to a much higher end Shibata stylus I had, it is more of a "warm" sounding needle than a "precision" needle - which is exactly what some people want, and might vary with your setup. I am running this through a Pro-Ject Tube-Box, which also adds some warmth (which, to the uninitiated, is a little more of a blended sound - still accurate and clear, but with a little less distinction to each individual instrument/track, and a little more forgiveness re: a bad pressing or little imperfections on the surface). I am not fully familiar with the limits of the tonearm, but I have used the speakers I am using in several setups, so know what they are capable of. Through my current setup, I found that a 1+ boost on bass and treble hit the sweet spot. So, maybe lots of midrange in the profile of this stylus.If you want a big upgrade in sound and like the "vintage" warmth of records, rather than a real technical or "surgical" listening experience, this is a great choice, and can be successfully tailored if you’re open to some EQ tweaks. I have not tried out the VM96ML (red), which is allegedly a more analytical upgrade, but reviews I read gave this one the nod. I will try that one next. Overall, I think these cartridges do pretty well, but I think edged out by the Ortofon Red/Blue series (also interchangeable, but needs a different base cartridge). The two cents of a vinyl enthusiast, but not an audiophile.